The assurance that there will be no cuts in responsibilities or downgrading of the Fisheries Department of Kalymnos, in light of the modification of the Internal Service Organization of the South Aegean Region, was given by the Deputy Regional Governor for the Primary Sector, Philemon Zannetidis, in response to a related letter from the Fishing Association of Large Pelagic Fish of Kalymnos.
Mr. Zannetidis described the “information falsely spread on the island of Kalymnos as baseless and blatantly malicious.” He asserted that the objective truth is that the fisheries sector will continue to receive the same level of service, and with the digital transition being planned alongside the organization’s modification, the work of the sole regional employee stationed on the island will become even easier.
It should be noted that in its letter, the Fishing Association of Large Pelagic Fish of Kalymnos, after presenting data regarding the importance and contribution of the Kalymnos Fisheries Department, requests from the Mayor of Kalymnos to convene an emergency Municipal Council meeting to discuss this issue due to its seriousness. “The three departments together, of Rhodes, Ermoupolis, and Naxos, produced 1/10 of what the Fisheries Department of Kalymnos produced,” notes the Fishing Association, among other things.
The association also adds that the Fisheries Department of the Regional Unit of Kalymnos has approximately 544 professional fishing boats. Kalymnos has the largest fishing fleet in Greece, with 355 active fishing boats.
“Unfortunately, today, it is proven in practice that upgrading becomes downgrading and hires are only made in the Fisheries Department of Rhodes without purpose,” it notes, concluding, “We ask for the Fisheries Department of Kalymnos to remain autonomous. It is inconceivable for the largest fishing port in the country to be treated like a poor relative.”
Nikoleta Tzortzi
